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Borderland is not just a poetry collection—it’s an invitation to explore the most vulnerable corners of the human experience. Award-winning author Ross Victory takes readers on an emotional journey across the intersections of masculinity, race, bisexuality, and grief. In a fearless blend of narrative and free verse, Victory dismantles societal expectations, offering a space where identity can exist fluidly and unapologetically.
Through its evocative imagery and bold storytelling, Borderland tackles life’s most complex themes—love, loss, strength, and defiance. Each poem immerses readers in raw emotion, from tender vulnerability to fierce defiance. This collection is perfect for readers seeking honest, unfiltered reflections on what it means to exist at the crossroads of identity and experience.
With a voice that’s as unique as it is powerful, Ross Victory has created a collection that speaks to anyone searching for connection and understanding. Borderland isn’t just a book—it’s a movement, a conversation, and a space to find yourself reflected in its pages.
Step into the borderland, where identity knows no boundaries.
Read an Excerpt
The Watchtower
I am a lone sniper standing watch
over my heart,
On a fortress wrought with steel and barbed wire.
I scan the horizon, forever askance,
Enemy or ally? Escape or endure?
Isolation strips away my doubt.
Perched still and silent,
High and ready above the world.
Mirages in the distance,
Stirrings in the sand,
Hallucinations in my mind,
A phantom wasteland.
In this tower,
Each approaching step
Sparks memories of betrayal,
Too vivid to forget.
Steady aim, my rifle cracks—
I descend.
Moving with stealth and care,
To find a crumpled note,
“Do you need help? We see you alone up there.”
How do I distinguish,
Between enemy and peer?
Steady aim, my rifle cracks—
I descend.
Another crumpled letter,
“I’m in love with you.”
Atop the watchtower,
Guarded by suspicion,
Threats of war outweigh my desire for love,
On guard, I am stifled by my own protection.
Ready, aim…
Once, I came down to aid a woman calling for help,
Blade to the neck, a sword in my side
She robbed me of everything,
Scars remain
Oh, the irony that echoes,
In this needle's eye,
Among glorious clouds, silken air,
I repel the saving light.
One day, I may know the truth,
Sometimes love knocks.
Until that day,
In the Borderland's cruel lore,
My instinct, my watchtower a monument,
To a boy lost in war.
About the Author:
Ross Victory, (he/him), is an award-winning author, music artist, and entrepreneur from Los Angeles. Featured in LA Weekly, LA Blade, American Reporter, and Bi.org, Ross rediscovered the healing power of writing after losing his father and brother. A former English teacher, Ross creates immersive narrative experiences. He published “Views from the Cockpit,” a father-son memoir, in 2019, resulting in a portfolio of six original titles and a music catalog of 20 songs. His works explore self-discovery, adventure, bisexuality, and family. In 2023, he released the Pride anthem “Bisexual Daze” and Book 1 of the L.A.-based horror series “Grandpa's Cabin.” Ross also publishes articles and reflections about grief, biphobia, and elder abuse on Medium.com and recently spoke at their Annual Writer’s Conference. This fall he will release his first poetry collection titled, “Borderland,” exploring the intersection of race, masculinity, and sexuality.
Website: https://www.rossvictory.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rossvictoryofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rossvvictorius
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Borderland-Poetry-Intersection-Masculinity-Bisexuality-ebook/dp/B0DJ1PHR13
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